Wire-screen frame and method of making the same



April 8, 1930- R. E. BLACKBURN 1,753,683

WIRE SCREEN FRAME AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Sept. 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 1 2 2 57 .3 x5 FZ'gw [villi/111mm April 1930. R. E. BLACKBURN 1,753,683

WIRE SCREEN FRAME AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Sept. 9, 1926 2 Shets-Sheet 2 I Fig-l0 6! 7 v X05552" Efiucazemw Patented Apr. 8,1930

ROBERT E. BLACKBURN, or LQS aivennss, cannon/um WIRE-SCREEN FRAME AND METHOD MAKING THE SAME Application filed September In general practice, in fitting buildings with window openings, window sash, and wire screens, it is common to make Window sash of standardized width and length, but

in common practice, window frames made for the same size of sash may vary both in width and length so that the maker of Window screens is compelled to make such screens especially for each window frame in the average dwelling, and this involves considerable extra costin labor and in screen misfits over what would be required if the-window frames were standardized.

The window screen frames 0 lengths and widths as made by window screen makers usually have to be trimmed in order to fit into the opening; andin some cases such screen frames are too narrow for the opening, so that in case suchscreen is mounted in such opening, there will be a crack between the edges of the screen and the inner edges of the window casing; and if too 7 short there will be a crackbetween the window sill andthe bottom of the screen.

An object of this invention is to'avoid the trouble and expense of fitting the screen frame into the opening in a window frame.

It is customary to fit the screen frame between the inner edges of the outside casing of the window frame, andthe screen frame is-not flush with such frame, but is usually one-sixteenth of an inch thicker than the outside casing of the window frame and I have taken care of this common featureto supply a metal screen that will seldom require to be fitted into the open space between the edges of the outside casing.-

In the present instance I provide a window screen frame that hasion one side thereof a projecting endless bead over which the web or sheet of screen clothis stretched leaving a flat margin all around the screen cloth to fit on the face of theoutside casing.

Another object is to provide a screen frame having a high coefiiciency of edgewise re sistance which will hold the wire screen cloth with greater cloth tension than is possible with a wooden frame and to make provision v whereby portions of such frame may be easily f standard 9; 1926. Serial No. 134,419.

bent flatwise to conform to any irregularities of the outside window casing.

- It is highly necessary with screen frames, that the same be so constructed that the side which fits against the window casing be fiat 5i when the screen is closed, so that it will contact with the window casing all around and leave no opening between it and the window 7 frame through which insects may enter and anobject of this invention is to provide a substantial light metal screen which will be rigid when fastened shut, and will fit closely all around againstthe window frame.v

In this invention I provide a composite frame formed of strap metal stiles and rails with welded corners, andfiat at its edges upon one surface and provided on a surface with flanage rolls forming hollow bead-s terminating in edges adjacent to but-s aced from the frame strips orvstraps, thus orming an endless external recess into which the edges of the wire web or screen cloth covering the bead may be bent, thus straining-the web and giving it a strong tensionto hold it absolutely tight; and the finished screen comprises the combination with strap metal frame members integrally united at the corners and having at their inner edges rolls to form va recessed bead into which the edges of a web or wire screen cloth stretched over the frame may be tucked to fix the web to the frame. I

The invention includes the completed screen frame, the flanged sheet metal stampings, the sheet metal blanks adapted to be put together to, form the frame; and the" crosswelded lapped corners and miter weld corner bead channel frame,

v The inventionfurther provides a complete rectangular frame composed of,only four initial pieces, and such pieces aregnetal strips integrally united beingwelded together and internally self'i braced and may be applied, insect tight, against the outside'of a Window casing without forming any projection therefrom greater than has heretofore been customary with wooden screens as hereinbefore stated.

Another feature of advantage is that the screen frame is adapted to avoid the appearmost expeditious manner.

The invention is also applicable to sliding half screens. V The improved screen may be manufactured in different ways and an object of the invention is to provide a novel method of making the screen so as to provide a screen of this character in the simplest, easiest and Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and-the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a view of a screen embodying this invention hung outside a window casing, and'shown with a greatly exaggerated inward bow. The window casing is shown in section. a 1 1 Fig. 2 is an elevation of the screen brought into place on the casing whichis'shown in section. V

Fig. 3 is an inside View of the screen shown in Figs. 1 and 2, looking at the projecting SCIGBIII'EIHCl the flat face of the screen frame therearound, that is adapted to fit against the flat window casing as in Fig. 2, or to slide in grooves as indicated'in Fig. 15.

' Fig. 4 is a view of the screen on the side that is outward and toward the right in Figs.

1 and 2. V V

Fig. 5 '1s a section on enlarged scale on line m Figs. 3 and 4, looking in the direction of the'arrow. z g a Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental external new of the corner of the screen asshown at the upper left hand corner of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an outside view of a rail stamping.

Fig. 8 is an edge view of the rail stamping shown in Fig.7. 1

Fig. 9 is an edge view of the-rail blank with bead formed'of the-stamping of Figs.-

enlarged scale.

Fig. 14 is a face view to illustrate a step in making theframe out of the stile and rail blanks, whereby an edgewise internal outward strain is imposed on each stile to resist the tension of the wires.

Fig. 15 is a fragmental vertical section of a sliding half screen in a window frame, fragments of which are shown.

Fig. 16 is a fragmental perspective view of an upper corner of a screen constructed in accordance with this invention and adapted to use as a suspended half screen The stile stampings 1 (see Fig. 10) are alike and consist of a main strip or strap body 2 and an edge extension 3 that has miter ends 4:, and is adapted to be bent into a roll over the strap 2 to form the heads 5 of the stile blanks 6 for the completed frame 7 Each, stileblankfi differs from the stile stamping 1 in that the edge extension 3 of the stile stamping is rolled over and forms the bead, or roll '5,-the free edge 8 of which is spaced from the main strap body 2, to leave a slot or openmouth 9 to a recess 10 into which the edge 11 of the screen web 12 is tucked after the endsof the stile blanks and rail blanks have been connected to form the screen frame 7 having the continuousfiange 13 outside the bead; V The rail stampings 14., (see Figs. 7 and 8) are like each other and are substantially like the stile stampings; differing therefrom in that each has an offset lap portion 15 adapted to receive lap ends 16 of the stiles so that one u face'o'f the completed screen frame is smooth and may be fitted fiat against theflat face of a window casing or'the bead stop, not shown.

Each rail, stamping alsocomprises a main strap body 17 and miter-end edge extension 18,between the end lap offsets 15.

The screenrail blanks are provided with rolls or beads 5 like the rolls or beads 5 of the stiles, and form web receiving slots and recesses corresponding ,to the slots and cesses 9 and 10 for the stiles.

' To make the frame in the form at present preferred, the ends of the stile blanks for one screen frame arefir'st placed on the offset end portions of one of the rails and the stile blanks "are spread apart attheir further ends as indi- 'cated at 19, in Fig.,14, and then the stile ends 'applied'to the rail blank'are welded thereto by some suitable form of welding as by spot 7 welding or its equivalent.

By this means I have provided for the manufacture of a rectangular screen frame,

' an assembly of one rail and two stiles welded together with the stiles divergent sothat in 1 order to'weld a like rail to the free ends of such divergent stiles it is necessary to spring the stiles edgewise and thus put them under :an internal edgewise strain that tends to bow in finishing the screen. I The frame'thus constructed includes four sheet metal members, the ends of which are fixed together, and two opposite ones of which members are under edgewise tension.

I have found in actual practice that no greater skill, time or labor is required to thus give to the screen frame the high coeflicient of edgewise resistance than is required for welding the members together without imposing upon the frame the said edgewise tension resistance.

It is thus seen that by making the assembly and then springing the ends of the stiles toward each other and fastening the stiles to the second rail, the work of producing a strong edgewise strain resisting screen frame is made possible with practically no additional expense over a frame devoid of such edgewise resistance, thus permitting the use of light sheet metal for making strong frames.

Then the stiles are brought under strain into position in the oflset end portions of the other rail, and are then welded in place with the miter joints .20 fitting together at the corners of the rolls or beads, thus, a frame composed of stile and rail strips, forming an outer border or flange 2, and having a continuous externally channeled bead inside such border is formed. That is to say, the frame comprises a continuous outwardly opening hollow bead and a continuous outwardly extending flange formed of the straps, and flat and smoothon the side from which the bead projects.

Then the wire cloth or screen web 12 is spread on the continuous bead, and the edges of the cloth are then tucked under into the open slot, thus forming an edge clinch 21 and completing the screen. a

By this method of construction the wire web is drawn very tight by the tucking process, and the wires are practically clinched underneath the shell formed by the bead.

In F 14, the broken lines a indicate the location of'the inner bead edges of the stiles when the screen frame is completed, and broken lines 7) indicate the location of the outer edges of the flange when the frame is completed. I

In Fig. 3, the thin vertical lines indicate the union of the inner edges of the stile ends with the rails, and the broken horizontal lines (Z indicate the union of the inner edges of the rails with the stiles. c

In Fig. l, the bends at thejunction of the rails and stiles are indicated at e and these bends are on the side opposite the projected bead and are indicated by the character 6 at different places in other figures.

hen the invention is applied to sliding half screens, (see Fig. the top rail is provided with a flange 22 extending at right angles to the plane of the screen so as to abut against the bottom meeting rail 23 of the top sash 24.

In Fig. 16, 25 indicates an ear extending upwardly from the parting rail flange 2 5v and provided with a hole to receive a screw 27 driven into the :blind stop .28 or into the casing29, whereby the screen can be pivoted between the blind stops orcasin of a'window- 7 M It is thus seen that I have made provision and the flange is practically unnoticeable and therefore-no fillets are required to give the finished appearance.

Thethickness of the strips or straps from -dow frame, the space between the wire cloth;

which the stiles and rails are formed, may 110E535 exceed of an inch inorder togive the required strength, and therefore when the swinging screen, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is

brought flat against the window casing the projection formed by the screen is about theeno same as that which is customary with stand ard wooden screen frames now in use. v

It is thus seen thatin the completed screen the internal strain of an opposite. two of the frame members, that is .to say, the internal I edge-wise strains of said members tend to bow the members edge-wise from each other,

thus practically forminga trussed-frame; although such opposite members are 1n parallelism, being held so by the tension ofthe wire cloth. 7

I cla1m:- I s 1. A screen frame comprising metal stiles and rails, each ofsald stiles formed with an outwardly opening hollow bead and a flat flange extending edgewise from said bead,

said flange and bead having an internal strain tending to bow the stiles edgewise from each other, said stiles being welded to rails having internal beads and edgewise outwardly ex-- tending flanges to resist the internal strain of the stiles; and a screen wire web strained 0n the beads of said stiles and rails; the tension of said web'being resisted by the strain of the stiles.

:2. A screen frame comprising stiles and rails, said stiles formed with lap ends and inner edge extensions having mitered ends,

said rails provided with off-set lap ends and inner edge extensions having corresponding 55120 mitered ends, the off-set ends of said rails adapted to receive the lap ends of said stiles and be welded thereto, so that one surface of the completed screen is smooth and the mitered edge extensions of said stiles and rails 1 being rolled over to form a continuous bead around the opening of the frame and the free edge of which is spaced from the main body of the frame to form a recess into which the edges of the screen are tucked.

r 3. The method set forth of making a win-' dow screen frame which consists in stamping sheet metal strips into form for the stiles and rails of the frame, forming at the meeting ends of the rails and stiles offsets so that the frame will have lap ends and one flat side; and overlapping and welding the meeting ends together.

4. The method of making a frame which consists in welding to a rail, adjacent ends of two stiles spread apart at their further ends and then bringing the further ends into position on a like rail and welding the same thereto, thus producing an edgewise strain in the stiles of the completed frame, tending to bow them from each other so as toresist the tension of the wire screen stretched thereon.

5. A screen frame assembly'consisting of three members comprising two stiles and a rail for a frame; said stiles being fixed to the rail and arranged divergent to each other so i that in order to form a-completed screen by welding to the ends of the stiles a second rail for the formation of a rectangular frame, it

will be necessary to place the stiles under edgewise tension or strain in bringing them into position to be welded in the formation of a rectangular frame,

6. A sheet metal frame comprising four sheet metal members the meeting ends of which are fixed to each other, and the bodies of an opposite two of which members are under edgewise internal strain tending to how the members edgewise from each other so that when the wire cloth is strained onto the screen frame said members may be drawn into parallelism and yet remain under edge-wise outward strain.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 1st day of September, 1926.

ROBERT E. BLACKBURN. 

